Stepbrothers

Chapter one

It had been a year since the death of Loki's mom. And it wasn't going to be any better for the child she left behind...

Some progress had been made. It was less hard for Loki to see the beautiful grand piano, black and shiny in the reception room, her most treasured instrument, now silenced forever. Loki's mother had been a well-known concert artist. Once upon a time, she had hoped her son would walk in her steps. Of course, Larry Laufeyson, her husband and Loki's father, was not that much enthusiastic about it, having planned for his son and heir to take the reins of his law firm. Before his mother's illness, Loki was fine either way, but had made no definite choice.

Then Francesca fell sick, very sick. And then she died and Loki's world collapsed. So being a pianist or a lawyer went to the far bottom of his list of priorities. His father shut down, heartbroken. Their relatives and friends were not much of any help, being as shocked as they were. Beauty, brains, talent, breeding, success, all gone to dust overnight... Who could blame them ?

Loki managed to carry on but barely. As a family, even as wealthy as they were, father and son still had the occasional issues. But the death of Francesca destroyed them both and life since then looked pointless.

Each morning, Loki had to go through the same routine. He got ready for his ridiculously expensive private school. His father still in his office, Loki took a breakfast prepared by their governess on his own. As good a cook and sweet a woman as Manuelita was, she wasn't Francesca. She wasn't his mother. As for his father, he kept himself to himself, lately... He and his son were now leading separate lives, barely meeting at supper time and not sharing much anyway.

Loki gritted his teeth a lot these times. Sometimes his jaws hurt at night. It happened less and less but it was still very painful.

But what more could he do except trying to keep his head out of the waters ?

Loki tolerated his high school. And again, "tolerated" was a fairly kind term.

Because of his father's money (Larry was one of the main sponsors), or rather thanks to it, he was left in a relative peace. No bullying for him. No one dared for the Laufeysons had a piece of every business pie in town. Attacking Loki Laufeyson meant trouble for you, especially if your Pa (or even your Ma), had a job even remotely connected with Larry Laufeyson.

Loki appreciated it. It gave him peace in an usually stressful environment. He was isolated, surely, but he didn't care. He had witnessed firsthand rich kids' bullyism towards kids with lesser means, on scholarship or otherwise. Before his mother's death, he frequently intervened and, as he had been put on a shelf by his father, he had been respected as a protector or a meddling busybody, considering either side's point of view.

After his mother died, he retired in his own head and chose not to care anymore.

From being a peculiar independent student, he became isolated and definitely creepy...

As class was starting, no one had spoken or even saluted Loki yet. Even his desk was slightly shifted away from the others. Loki preferred it to be so. No useless chitchat or teenage nonsense. Loki felt too old for this shit, to put it bluntly. At only seventeen, he felt decades old, actually. As he was getting his desk ready for the already long day, he heard a rumble throughout the room. Excited muffled squeaks from the usual mice, the stupid cheerleader gang. To Loki's eyes, they were nonexistent, as were their male partners, the sporty gang, but when they were being noisy they were a nuisance. They were running to a group of student to another, looking over their head. Loki couldn't guess what the commotion was. Probably the last Dolce bag or Louboutin shoes or whatever, he internally sneered. Yet, annoying voices made their way through his reluctant ears.

"... So handsome ! Came right from..."

"... Seen him ?! He's taller than Harry and..."

"... My god ! Blond and blue eyes like..."

Loki wanted to blow a loud raspberry but his mother would have considered it vulgar. A new jock ! A damn, stupid new jock was all that was about. Well, what else ? Loki hoped that it was not going to be another bother. He already had much on his plate without it...

Loki proceed to his usual business, hearing the teacher demanding orders and the ruffle of feet to take place at their seats. He didn't bother raising his head when he heard ridiculously girly gasps and an ominous silence.

" Class, this is your new classmate. Thor Odinson from Dallas. He will..."

Loki barely paid any attention. He deigned raising his head to avoid any comment from the teacher. He knew his indifference was an issue for her. So he forced himself into a good look at the stranger.

Not bad for a jock. Indeed, a tall blond with a light golden beard and sparkling blue eyes and a restrained but confident smile. He was obviously wearing the biggest size of the school jackets they could have found and still it was a little tight. He scanned the whole class, still smiling to everyone. Already, the girls were ready to swoon and the boys were already toughening up at the sight of the new threatening alpha male... Loki couldn't help but give a little sneer looking at his classmates. It was such an age-old scene, the pack reacting to the new challenging stranger. It could have been a laugh if it hadn't been such a cliché... Loki thought then that the up and coming days would be interesting, full of soap opera dramas. Great.

And then he felt the eyes of the stranger on him.

Loki had a bothersome chill in his back. The jock was giving him a weird look, as if Loki was something totally out of place in the scenery. That didn't bore good. Loki had a bad history with jocks, athletes and overall guys who thought they were the new sheriff in town. As usual, Loki's defined but slim silhouette, long black hair and cat-green eyes on a desperately pale skin challenged their definition of manly maleness and other societal rules. Loki was a bit impressed but refused to avert this eyes. New jock in town had to know you don't mess too much with Loki Laufeyson, not if your daddy wanted to keep his job safe...

Curiously, instead of the usual monkey-like gestures of defiance, the blond jock gave a strange lopsided smile, as if Loki had passed from UFO to something at least interesting. He turned his eyes first for the teacher was asking him to present himself.

He did, but Loki didn't hear much of it. Something about being a transfer from Dallas and a former football quarterback. Loki couldn't help but think that Josh Randall, current school's Johnny football hero, popular guy and of course star quarterback wouldn't be pleased to hear this. The incident was over, as far as Loki was concerned. He didn't need that kind of hassle in his life. As he saw the big blond being cheered and settling down to a nearby empty seat. Loki decided it was the last of any interaction or interest he was going to have with mister new guy...

The rest of the day was spent in relatively normal routine. Loki was going around from class to class. Sometimes he would have a peak at Mister New Guy, already the center of a court of giggling damsels or at the center of "muy macho" friendly dudes. He had already lost any sign of shyness and was fitting in as he had always been the master of the hen house. Loki gave a neutral smile. Hooray for him. Why would he care as long as Mister Perfect stayed out of his way ?

And finally it was time to go home. On his way to the portal, Loki's head was already full with the assignments he had to prepare. After his mother's death, his schoolwork had been less than acceptable. Reality had woken him up when he had realized that his grades would never allow him to go to the college of his dreams to study law. And he didn't want his father to pull any string. He wanted it to be his success.

So he had to focus on his work and hard if he wanted to impress and have a perfect recommendation. He was caught up in his thinking that he didn't notice New guy coming to him and bumped into his large chest, making his books and binders fall to the ground.

"Sorry ! Sorry ! Here, let me..." New guy scrambled to the floor to pick up the scattered items. Loki, a little upset by the shock, wanted to slap his hand off his stuff but didn't. After all, he was not paying attention and New Guy was trying to be nice... Apparently.

"No, no worry... I'll..." Loki tried to argue but New Guy was faster and handed him all the things with a big bright smile that Loki felt as … creepy. Why was he so courteous ? Loki didn't like it any bit. Why were they meeting and in such a stupid way ? Right out of one of these ridiculous TV dramas...

"I... Thank you." Loki didn't know what more to say. New guy smiled again but in an uncertain way. He looked as awkward as Loki.

-Look..." The blond decided. "We're in the same class now. I'm Thor Odinson..." He pulled out his hand and Loki reluctantly took it. He didn't want to engage conversation but he didn't want to be rude either.

His mother would have never tolerated it.

-I know..." Loki said quietly. "You've been introduced this morning..."

Thor gave a stupid laugh.

-Well, you didn't seem that much interested ! I thought you would not have even noticed... You look really dedicated to your work !

Apparently New Guy wanted to be Fun Guy. Har, har... That started to crawl on Loki's nerves. But self-proclaimed Fun Guy seemed to be in a mood for chat and went on.

-You're Loki Laufeyson, right ? Larry Laufeyson's only boy ?

Loki frowned. Why the question ?

-I am.

Seemingly not taking offense of Loki's deliberate coldness, New Guy smiled a broader smile. Loki thought he should audition for a toothpaste commercial or something...

-Well, my Mom's Fran Odinson and I think her and your dad..."

Before New Guy could say any more, Loki heard a brutal honk. That was his father's chauffeur that usually brought him back. José was Manuelita's son and not a patient man when late on schedule. Loki ran to the car after a quick farewell to a baffled Thor.

He was almost ready to thank José for that. The blond guy was a bore and he had no interest about his nonsense...

As soon as he had arrived home, Loki felt hungry. He was surprised to find his father in the kitchen. He was joyously pouring himself a drink. He looked feisty. Loki couldn't remember a time when his father had even made the shadow of a smile, after his mother's death. This was... eerie.

" Good day, father ?" He said matter-of-factly trying to make a conversation.

Larry cringed. He hated when Loki called him father.

Everything's well and fine, you brat..." He used that word sometimes to tease his son. "Everything's dandy..."

He chuckled to himself and went back to his drink. Loki was puzzled. It was the first time in years that his father had seemed so relaxed and … Yes, happy. He chose not to push the matter any more. A light mood was a rare treat for Larry and Loki didn't want to spoil it...

The following days had a different touch afterwards. Loki's father was indeed in a better mood. It influenced the whole house for Loki's mind weighed less and even Manuelita and José seemed more light-spirited than usual.

Even school was less boring for the presence of New Guy, well, Thor Odinson, brought its daily arrival of excitement.

As Loki could have predicted it, Thor became the new king. Josh Randall and his Neanderthal crew were relegated to the shadows, to their great rage. As Thor had proved many times his talents to Coach O'Hara, the much famed role of quarterback had been bestowed on him. So, no revenge was even remotely possible until further notice, for going after Thor was going after Coach O'hara, the football team and thus, the whole school.

Loki still didn't care but the sight of Stacy Markson, captain of the cheerleader team and former soul mate of Josh Randall, openly flirting with Odinson. She had ditched the fallen king the very morning after Thor's nomination. It was laughable. Stacy Markson and her whole crew together barely amounted to 50 point of IQ. He hoped Thor had good ears for the hen house's futile giggling was particularly loud...

Loki liked being mean...

The only peculiar point was that Thor seemed adamant to talk to Loki. It didn't look like harassment. Thor's attitude was not particularly threatening. He was looking for Loki, obviously, showing up at places where he was supposed to be, looking for him in the library, the lab, the hall... Problem was, whatever it might be, it didn't interest Loki and he did everything possible to avoid him. Whether Thor realized or not, he didn't care either. He just hoped Thor would give up and all of this would stop.

Other things were on Loki's mind. Much more disturbing things. A week after Thor's appearance, his father was a totally different man, smiling, laughing and even singing while shaving himself... Loki knew for his father had a very off-key and loud voice when he sang... He came out at evenings and returned late...

Loki was sure all of this meant he had met someone.

He didn't know what to think of it. It had been barely a year and he was already forgetting the so-called love of his life ? On one hand, Loki wanted his father to be happy, but on the other... It looked like treason. Period.

Loki decided to confront his father after a little while. After much dallying, humming and hamming, Larry finally admitted that, yes, he was dating someone.

Loki was mad at himself to feel so hurt. He tried to control it.

The idea that someone could be replacing his mother in his father's heart was simply unbearable. He tried at least to look amiable, not to push his father's off. Larry Laufeyson was not known for his patience...

"And who the lucky lady might be ?" He hoped that his voice didn't sound too sarcastic.

His father gave an embarrassed laugh.

"That's our new CEO at the firm, a lady from Texas, can you imagine ?" He laughed again and his cheeks turned red. "Her name's Fran Odinson. I think her son has integrated your class. You are of the same age. Haven't you met a big blond guy named Thor ?"